STOCK PROBLEMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 157, 21 July 1937, Page 13

STOCK PROBLEMS

Value of Animal Research BUREAU TO BE STARTED The advantages of the policy adopted in the case of the Plant Research Bureau had encouraged the Government to arrange for a similar organisation to handle problems relating to the stoolc of the Dominion, said the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when opening the Agronomy Division buildings at Lincoln College last Friday. He explained that the stock problems wofild be dealt with by the Animal Research Bureau, which would, he hoped, start to function shortly. That bureau had the same essential foundations as those of the Plant Bureau; Government departments and agricultural colleges would co-operate in investigations on problems of animal health, nutrition, and breeding. Provision would thereby be made to. deal with work concerned with sheep, cattle, pigs, horses and poultry, all of which required attention because of the important part they played in the rural economy of the Dominion. Such work, indeed, would be necessary to bring to full fruition that undertaken by the Plant Research Bureau. Co-operation of Effort. "It is recognised that research ia costly, especially if the best brains and best facilities are to be available. In New Zealand /our industries, even oui farming industries, are on too small a scale to maintain a number of small research stations, which, working individually, are seldom able to make great progress in dealing with animal problems. This handicap can be overcome only by co-operation of effort and pooling of resources and guidance, such as may be aehieved through an Animal Reesarch Bureau. "The scheme which has been arranged after careful consideration between the Departments of Scientific and Industrial Research, Agriculture, Health, and thg Agricultural Colleges and Cawthron Institute has been designed to meet the situation in so fai as the Dominion as a whole is concerned. As is the case of the Plant Research Bureau, it will be possible to undertake work in the various soil and climate environments which are characteristic of New Zealand through the stations which will be established adjoining the two colleges and at other appropriate points in both islands."